14 Lemon-Kissed Dinner Recipes to Enjoy on Summer Nights

With its bright color and fresh flavor, there’s nothing that screams “summer” quite so loudly as lemon (even if it is technically a winter fruit). Lemon chicken recipes to help you detox when the heat has you feeling groggy are always a delight, and lavender and lemon recipes are perfect for snacking on in your freshly blooming garden. And let’s not forget lemonade — a chilled glass helps take the edge off on steamy summer nights. There’s something about lemon that can take any dish and make it taste totally vacation worthy. These 14 lemon-kissed dinner recipes will keep you feeling bright and fresh even on the hottest days of the season.

2. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers: Marinated in oregano, garlic, and lemon, these versatile chicken skewers will be a new go-to for your summer grilling menu. Try them with grilled veggie kabobs and rice, or toss them into a pita with plenty of tzatziki sauce. (via Not Enough Cinnamon)

3. Angel Hair Crab Cakes: Made with angel hair pasta, these crab cakes get super crispy, never heavy or oily like the traditional recipe. Serve with lemon wedges and a creamy saffron aioli for dipping. (via Rhubarb & Cod)

6. Super Easy Lemon Chicken: The key to this recipe is a simple ratio: the juice of two lemons plus one tablespoon of honey equals a perfectly balanced lemon sauce every time. Pair it with a pan-fried chicken breast and a side of fresh peas to serve. (via My Gorgeous Recipes)

10. Lemony Corn and Cotija Quinoa Salad: Adding quinoa to a flavorful corn salad gives it staying power that will fuel you all day long. A simple dressing of lemon juice, cilantro, and garlic help to balance the sweetness of summer corn. (via Frites and Fries)

12. Greek Chicken Soup With Semolina and Vegetables: Greek chicken soup, called avgolemono, usually has a silky broth thickened with eggs and flavored with lots of lemon. In this recipe, it gets an added boost from semolina, which further thickens the broth, leaving you with a heartier meal that still tastes fresh thanks to lemon, dill, and lots of veggies. (via 2 Pots 2 Cook)

13. Mint, Lemon, and Garlic Zucchini Noodles: Spiralized zucchini offers a low-carb alternative to pasta that can go with pretty much anything. Lemon, mint, Parmesan cheese, and lots of garlic add satisfying flavor, so you don’t even realize you’re just eating a big pan of veggies. (via Instant Pot Eats)